Matthew Kauffman, PhD
Unit Leader - Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Matt has worked on topics that include the management and recovery of peregrine falcons, habitat quality and fidelity of North Pacific whale species, the effects of range management on carnivores in southern Africa, the dynamics of elk populations, and interactions among wolves, elk and aspen.
Only Matt's five most recent publications are shown here. For more information about Matt, including a full publications list, visit his profile page on the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit web site.
Education
- University of Montana 2004
- University of California, Santa Cruz 2003
- Ph D University of California, Santa Cruz 2003
- BA University of Oregon 1992
Research Interests
Matt and his graduate students are conducting studies on elk, wolves, moose, deer, and bighorn sheep in Wyoming, addressing the influence of habitat condition, predation, human disturbance, and energy development on these species. Matt’s research combines work on animal physiology, behavior and demography to better understand population- and landscape-level processes. A primary focus of this work is to provide timely information to agency biologists charged with managing Wyoming’s wildlife.
Teaching Interests
Matt teaches graduate courses in quantitative analysis of spatial wildlife data, community ecology of wildlife, and migration ecology.
Science and Products
Elk migration patterns and human activity influence wolf habitat use in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
WLCI researchers employ new approaches to help managers conserve deer migrations
Stopover ecology of a migratory ungulate
U.S. Geological Survey Science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative-2010 Annual Report
Long-term population dynamics of a managed burrowing owl colony
Are wolves saving Yellowstone's aspen? A landscape-level test of a behaviorally mediated trophic cascade
U.S. Geological Survey Science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative - 2008 Annual Report
U.S. Geological Survey Science Strategy for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative
Science and Products
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- Publications
Filter Total Items: 80
Elk migration patterns and human activity influence wolf habitat use in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
Identifying the ecological dynamics underlying human–wildlife conflicts is important for the management and conservation of wildlife populations. In landscapes still occupied by large carnivores, many ungulate prey species migrate seasonally, yet little empirical research has explored the relationship between carnivore distribution and ungulate migration strategy. In this study, we evaluate the inAuthorsAbigail Nelson, Matthew J. Kauffman, Arthur D. Middleton, Mike Jimenez, Douglas McWhirter, Jarrett Barber, Ken GerowWLCI researchers employ new approaches to help managers conserve deer migrations
Elk, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, moose, and bighorn sheep are iconic animals of the American West. These hooved animals, known as ungulates, commonly travel 30–60 miles between seasonal ranges. These migrations between winter and summer ranges are vital for survival and reproduction. As habitat fragmentation continues, the conservation of ungulate migration routes has received considerable atteAuthorsLeslie A. Allen, Matthew J. KauffmanStopover ecology of a migratory ungulate
1. Birds that migrate long distances use stopover sites to optimize fuel loads and complete migration as quickly as possible. Stopover use has been predicted to facilitate a time-minimization strategy in land migrants as well, but empirical tests have been lacking, and alternative migration strategies have not been considered. 2. We used fine-scale movement data to evaluate the ecological role ofAuthorsHall Sawyer, Matthew J. KauffmanU.S. Geological Survey Science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative-2010 Annual Report
This is the third report produced by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI) to detail annual work activities. The first report described activities for 2007 and 2008, and the second report covered work activities for FY09. This third report covers work activities conducted in FY2010, and it continues the 2009 approach of reporting on all the indiAuthorsZachary H. Bowen, Cameron L. Aldridge, Patrick J. Anderson, Timothy J. Assal, Laura Biewick, Steven W. Blecker, Gregory K. Boughton, R. Sky Bristol, Natasha B. Carr, Anna D. Chalfoun, Geneva W. Chong, Melanie L. Clark, Jay E. Diffendorfer, Bradley C. Fedy, Katharine Foster, Steven L. Garman, Steve Germaine, JoAnn Holloway, Collin G. Homer, Matthew J. Kauffman, Douglas Keinath, Natalie Latysh, Daniel J. Manier, Robert R. McDougal, Cynthia P. Melcher, Kirk A. Miller, Jessica Montag, Christopher J. Potter, Spencer Schell, Sarah L. Shafer, David B. Smith, Lisa L. Stillings, Michele L. Tuttle, Anna B. WilsonLong-term population dynamics of a managed burrowing owl colony
We analyzed the population dynamics of a burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) colony at Mineta San Jose International Airport in San Jose, California, USA from 1990-2007. This colony was managed by using artificial burrows to reduce the occurrence of nesting owls along runways and within major airport improvement projects during the study period. We estimated annual reproduction in natural and artifAuthorsJohn H. Barclay, Nicole M. Korfanta, Matthew J. KauffmanAre wolves saving Yellowstone's aspen? A landscape-level test of a behaviorally mediated trophic cascade
Behaviorally mediated trophic cascades (BMTCs) occur when the fear of predation among herbivores enhances plant productivity. Based primarily on systems involving small-bodied predators, BMTCs have been proposed as both strong and ubiquitous in natural ecosystems. Recently, however, synthetic work has suggested that the existence of BMTCs may be mediated by predator hunting mode, whereby passive (AuthorsMatthew J. Kauffman, Jedediah F. Brodie, Erik S. JulesU.S. Geological Survey Science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative - 2008 Annual Report
The Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI) was launched in 2007 in response to concerns about threats to the State's world class wildlife resources, especially the threat posed by rapidly increasing energy development in southwest Wyoming. The overriding purpose of the WLCI is to assess and enhance aquatic and terrestrial habitats at a landscape scale, while facilitating responsible enerAuthorsZachary H. Bowen, Cameron L. Aldridge, Patrick J. Anderson, Timothy J. Assal, Lori Anne Baer, R. Sky Bristol, Natasha B. Carr, Geneva W. Chong, Jay E. Diffendorfer, Bradley C. Fedy, Steven L. Garman, Steve Germaine, Richard I. Grauch, Collin G. Homer, Daniel J. Manier, Matthew J. Kauffman, Natalie Latysh, Cynthia P. Melcher, Kirk A. Miller, Jessica Montag, Constance J. Nutt, Christopher Potter, Hall Sawyer, David B. Smith, Michael J. Sweat, Anna B. WilsonU.S. Geological Survey Science Strategy for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative
Southwest Wyoming's wildlife and habitat resources are increasingly affected by energy and urban/exurban development, climate change, and other key drivers of ecosystem change. To ensure that southwest Wyoming's wildlife populations and habitats persist in the face of development and other changes, a consortium of public resource-management agencies proposed the Wyoming Landscape Conservation InitAuthorsZachary H. Bowen, Cameron L. Aldridge, Patrick J. Anderson, Geneva W. Chong, Mark A. Drummond, Collin G. Homer, Ronald C. Johnson, Matthew J. Kauffman, Steven T. Knick, John J. Kosovich, Kirk A. Miller, Tom Owens, Sarah L. Shafer, Michael J. Sweat - Web Tools
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